In my other articles, (including GetOffTheRATWheel.com) I talk about how to "get the bag." My goal for this blog is to help new or intermediate investors leverage technology to build a nest egg (aka "flip it and tumble it" - referencing a song by hip hop stars Gucci Mane and Migos). But I digress.

Got an iPhone or Android? You can get started right now. With the rise of "robo apps", you have more options to grow your money today with very little overhead. And while there are many investment apps, I highly recommend three based on their ease of use and because each of them are SIPC and/or FDIC insured up to $500,000.00, which is standard for large brokerages as well.

As a disclaimer, I am not a financial professional. Yet what qualifies me to write this article is my experience as an investor, both with apps and through traditional means (e.g. 401k, IRA and individual investments).

Stash

Stash, in my opinion, is probably the simplest and fastest way to multiply your money if you have an interest in investing and are familiar with basic investment principles. Here's how it works. With as little as $5 you can start investing in what are known as ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). In plain English this is simply a grouping of stocks. The beauty of Stash is that it only uses well-established ETFs from firms like Vanguard and Blackrock so its difficult to choose wrongly. So why not go direct to the firm? Because Stash allows you to invest with a tiny amounts of cash and even gives easily recognizable names to ETFs based on what they are (e.g. The ETF "Rising Robots" are a group of companies that 'lead the way in robotics and automation technologies'). Best of all, if you're not keen on setting money aside from your paycheck, you can set up automatic deposits into your Stash (daily, weekly, bi monthly, etc) in any amount you choose! There are also no trading fees or add on commissions that you need to pay--just a $1.00/mo fee.

Based on a risk-assessment questionnaire given when you sign up, Stash will recommend a mix of ETFs, but you can choose however you see fit. And don't worry--if you're brand new to investing, I recommend joining the Stash Investors Facebook Group to see what others are investing in! (This isn't school--it's okay to look on your neighbor's paper!) Stash is a must have app to help you flip and tumble ​the contents of your bag!

HERE'S THE FREE MONEY PART ;) Want a special link to sign up AND get $5 just for doing so? Here's the unique link: https://get.stashinvest.com/ricardoj9w47​​(When you get started, you'll get your own shareable link where you'll be able to earn $5 per sign up)​

RobinHood

Like Stash, Robinhood allows free trades and is also solely available on iPhone and Android devices. Unlike Stash however, you're only able to purchase publicly traded stocks. This is my top pick for anyone looking to specifically invest in the stock market without paying extra commissions. The interface is intuitive, easy to use, and there are no minimums to get started. You can also choose from traditional buy and sell order types (Market, Limit, Stop Loss and Stop Limit). Don't worry: the app will explain what these terms mean!

Similar to Stash, Robinhood also has very involved user communities on Facebook, such as Robinhood Investors. People are more than willing to help! The big downside is that you don't have a lot of News information in the app to go on--which is why it pays to keep an eye on websites like Morningstar.com, WSJ.com, Bloomberg.com, and the like. The people who are really "flipping and tumbling" are those who understand the market. Here's your chance to dive in!​

(When you get started, you'll get your own shareable link where you'll be able to earn more free stock!)

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ACORNS

Acorns is a simple, yet essential app that painlessly allows you to save and invest extra money. How does it work? After signing up, you connect it to one or more of your debit or credit cards and it invests your spare change by rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar. For instance, if you buy groceries for $78.15, Acorns will remember to pull $.85 for that transaction. If you buy a movie ticket for $11.72, Acorns will remember to pull another $0.28 for that transaction. Once your spare change hits the $5 threshold, this amount is swept from your linked card into the Acorns app and invested. Cool, right?

Although this is the primary means of earning money through Acorns, you can also manually add money or set up recurring deposits. Of the three apps I'm discussing, this one is the lowest maintenance. Like the other apps, there are no minimums and the cost is $1.00/mo. Even with no experience, you can start flipping and tumbling today!​HERE'S THE FREE MONEY PART ;) Want a special link to sign up AND get $5 just for doing so? Here's the unique link: https://acorns.com/invite/FSQMFX

​(When you get started, you'll get your own shareable link where you'll be able to earn $5 per sign up)

Where do you get the funds to invest? ​

I highly recommend setting aside a portion of your income and regularly making deposits. I personally invest 25% of my bonus cashflow earned in my Network Marketing company into my Stash and Robinhood accounts. It's all about short term sacrifices for long term gain! Lastly, do not tempted to withdraw! The more you have invested, the harder your money works for you! (Just be sure to diversify properly) When you've grown it to a sizeable amount, consider purchasing real estate, and/or other high yielding assets!

As the new year begun, there was a buzz around the 5LINX Corporate Office in Rochester, New York. For several weeks, the corporate team had been in talks with a giant in the Network Marketing Profession. The news was made official shortly after the new year--that the 5LINX Leadership Team has named sales guru, Mr. Larry Harper, as its new Chief Sales Officer.

Larry is a seasoned sales exec with 35+ years of experience, much of which coming from Amway where he helped the company reach 1.4 Billion in Sales. At Amway, he revolutionized the Latin American business model, growing revenue from $45 Million to $160 Million in under four years. This foundation gave way to a market that reached $1 Billion in Sales. His expertise ranges from compensation planning and sales incentives to customer relationship marketing and partnership incentives.

According to 5linx.com:Larry's role will serve as a traveling field ambassador, representing 5LINX Corporate at local meetings, presentations and trainings. The addition of Larry to the team, and the creation of this field-facing position is an important investment in the growth of 5LINX. It demonstrates our commitment to supporting our Representatives across the country and providing consistent, transparent and positive messaging to those who have planted their flag with 5LINX.

​Within just hours of making the news public, many 5LINX representatives expressed their gratitude and excitement to the already experienced leadership in the 5LINX Corporate Staff. Larry Harper joins the leadership team of Mike Gilbert (Chief Operating Officer), Denise Nowak (Vice President of Marketing, Farshad Tafazzoli (President), and Nelson Girard (Chairman).

For a replay of the official Corporate Announcement and the entire January Corporate Call, click "Play" below!

​If you enjoyed this blog, please quickly do me a favor and share with others and comment below.